Peggy

Since when was there an explosion during NG-1?

And yes that's only the total impulse, so you'd have to subtract ~10% for gravity drag etc. but it's a good approximation that shows why size alone is pretty irrelevant for range.

The ~140kg SLM missile is suspected to have at least 60kgs of propellant, probably more but lets use the minimum. Rocket equation gives a delta-V of ~1480m/s or mach 4.5. Sounds familiar?

OK, I'm gonna break that one down for you. A MK134 rocket motor weighs ~165kg. ~120kg of which is propellant. The resulting delta-V for a 280kg rocket is ~1480m/s or~mach 4.5. A missile with the same motor, but only weighing around 240kg would have a delta-V of ~1830m/s (M5.5).

Well, it is. Because 40kg is 4 times as much as 10 but 280 is only 2 times 140kg. So the mass fraction of the warhead for the ESSM is twice that of the SLM. But please tell me what the exact mass fraction of the propellant for the ESSM and the SLM is...

That's why I added the first Sentence. But yes, it does. Generally speaking, in rocketry, when you double the weight of the payload(in this case seeker, warhead etc.) you have to double the mass of the propellant to reach the same speed and speed means range.

Nah, SLM uses the same IR-Seeker as the regular IRIS-T, it just features a nose cone that protects the seeker during much of the flight before it is blown off when the seeker goes "active" in the final phase of the interception.

Depends how you measure and against which threats. But there is also the question of the payload. The ESSM carries a relatively heavy semiactive (block 2 active) radar seeker, plus a whopping 40kg warhead. SLM is carrying a modest ~10kg warhead and a light IR-seeker.

Is he stupid or something?

Complains about low solar energy (checks notes) at 8 in the morning...

problems, but none of them is straightforward.

.. because you really don't want your pipes to freeze when your radiators are in the shadow and the Datacenter is "down for maintenance" or some similar shit. You can use heat pipes, but those have restrictions for distance or need gravity. There are solutions for a lot of those

It's not that straightforward. Because you not only have to radiate heat away, you also have to get the heat from A to B. Easy on earth, just put a few pipes full of water between source and radiator. In space that becomes a mass problem and a swinging temp problem...

I'm not the servers employer.

Why should it be your decision if I go to a regular Restaurant?

Sorry my bad. Where I come from there exists a Legal Duty to Act. Which means if you see or find someone in need of help you have to help that person (unless you are unable to do so or would put yourself in danger) either directly or by calling help. No "not my responsibility".

Your first post sounded different.

I have the impression, the US could really benefit from a Legal Duty to Act.

Its the same principle like in a soda can, which is incredible stiff while complete but collapses when cutting a large hole into the back. SpaceX can compensate by strengthening the internals (like they did for the current door) but the larger it gets, the heavier the result.

Kinda. Because it is bellyflopping through the atmosphere, and using the front flaps to steer, the "fairing" is a structural part that keeps the upper stage from collapsing. A cylinder is inherently strong... unless you cut a big hole in the back, then it turns into "tinfoil".